Gay Marriage Ban Lifted in Vietnam

Same-sex couples may still not have the right to get legally married in Vietnam, but the country recently lifted a ban on same-sex marriage paving the way for gay rights activists to bring marriage equality to the Southeast Asian country.

The lifting of the ban took effect on New Year’s Day, and now makes Vietnam one of the few countries in the region to not have a legal hurdle banning gay marriage.

TIME reports: “However, Vietnam’s lawmakers stopped short of granting full recognition to same-sex marriages, which will not provide legal protections for spouses.”